Cassandre is a "spoken opera" or monodrama featuring music by composer Michael Jarrell.
A mythic masterpiece embodied by the cinematic French icon Fanny Ardant, the performance captures the intense, internal distress of a woman standing alone in the face of death. As she stands, watching her world fall apart, she looks back on the life she has lived and the truths she told. The play has been described as a deep, emotional story about the power of a woman’s voice.
Cassandre is a monumental production brought to life by a group of award-winning creators under the direction of Hervé Loichemol, based on the novel Cassandra by Christa Wolf.
Cassandre is a monumental production brought to life by a group of award-winning creators under the direction of Hervé Loichemol, based on the novel Cassandra by Christa Wolf.
A magnificent work... Fanny Ardant interprets a deeply moving character with her signature talent
— TLes Visiteurs du Soir
— TLes Visiteurs du Soir
Ardant brings a visceral clarity to the role... a performance that stands at the intersection of music and raw human emotion.
— International Arts Review
— International Arts Review
What struck me, quite independently of the character and historical situation, was that it was the distress of a single woman alone in the face of death
— Michael Jarrell, Composer
— Michael Jarrell, Composer
The Artist
Fanny Ardant is one of the most iconic figures in world cinema and theatre. A muse to directors like François Truffaut, with whom she made the landmark La Femme d’à Côté and Vivement Dimanche!, Ardant has built a career defined by intensity, elegance, and deep emotional resonance. Beyond her César-winning film career, she has collaborated with masters such as Michelangelo Antonioni, Sydney Pollack, and Franco Zeffirelli. On stage, her interpretation of Maria Callas in Master Class remains a career-defining performance, showcasing her unique ability to embody powerful, tragic female figures.
The Festival
This performance is part of The Cyprus International Theatre Festival, running from March 2 to March 8, 2026. CITF brings world-class performers from across the globe to Cyprus. This season, the festival stage is dedicated to the power of the individual female voice under the theme "SHE IS HERE." The festival invites you to the Pattihio Theatre in Limassol to experience a week of performances and events that celebrate the strength, truth, and presence of women who stand on their own.
